Fenland

Fenland's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 95,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Fenland increased by 14%, from about 83,500 to 95,300.

The addition of almost 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Fenland was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Relationships in Fenland

This area saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 51% to 45%).

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54% to 50%.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over in Fenland said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 28%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Fenland that rented privately increased from 8.5% to 16% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Fenland households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Fenland increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Fenland, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Fenland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Fenland decreased by 4.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Fenland, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Fenland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.4% to 6.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Fenland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 17%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Fenland decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Fenland, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Fenland residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 4.2% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 53%, while the percentage of Fenland residents that were self-employed increased from 8.8% to 9.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Fenland increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Fenland, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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